U.S. patent number 6,417,453 [Application Number 09/600,524] was granted by the patent office on 2002-07-09 for cable sleeve consisting of a covering body and at least one front-face sealing body.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Corning Cable Systems LLC. Invention is credited to Oliver Lapp, Rainer Zimmer.
United States Patent |
6,417,453 |
Lapp , et al. |
July 9, 2002 |
Cable sleeve consisting of a covering body and at least one
front-face sealing body
Abstract
A cable sleeve includes a covering body having a front-face end
defining a circumferential, conically tapered flange. At least one
front-face sealing body is positioned adjacent the covering body
and has a circumferential, U-shaped sealing groove. A ring seal in
inserted into the sealing groove of the sealing body. The ring seal
has an L-shaped cross-section and has a first leg that received
within the sealing groove of the sealing body and a second leg
having a tapered course on both sides broadening towards the first
leg. A straining ring fastens the ring seal between the flange of
the covering body and the sealing groove of the sealing body.
Inventors: |
Lapp; Oliver (Wuppertal,
DE), Zimmer; Rainer (Schalksmuhle, DE) |
Assignee: |
Corning Cable Systems LLC
(Hickory, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
7888229 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/600,524 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2000 |
PCT
Filed: |
April 28, 1999 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/DE99/01251 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
September 22, 2000 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO00/30231 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 25, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 18, 1998 [DE] |
|
|
198 53 203 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
174/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02G
15/013 (20130101); H02G 15/076 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02G
15/00 (20060101); H02G 15/02 (20060101); H02G
15/076 (20060101); H02G 15/013 (20060101); H01R
004/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;174/74R,74A,77R,84R,86,88R,93 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Reichard; Dean A.
Assistant Examiner: Mayo, III; William H.
Claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A cable sleeve comprising:
a covering body having a front face end defining a circumferential,
conically tapered flange;
at least one front face sealing body positioned adjacent the front
face end of the covering body, the at least one sealing body having
a circumferential groove;
a ring seal inserted into the sealing groove of the sealing body;
and
a straining ring having a conically tapered ring groove engaging
the flange of the covering body and the ring seal;
wherein the cross section of the ring seal is substantially an
L-shape and the ring seal comprising a first leg of the L-shaped
adapted to be received within the sealing groove of the at least
one sealing body and a second leg of the L-shape having a tapered
course on both sides broadening towards the first leg, the tapered
course of the second leg corresponding on one side to the conically
tapered flange of the covering body and on the other side to the
conically tapered ring groove of the straining ring, wherein the
ring seal has a Plurality of sealing surfaces that define an angle
equal to the angle between the inner surface of the flange of the
covering body opposite the ring seal and the inner surface of the
ring groove of the straining ring opposite the ring seal.
2. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the straining ring
comprises a circumferential projection acting on the first leg of
the ring seal.
3. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the ring seal has at least
one annual inner cavity.
4. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein, each of the plurality of
sealing surfaces has a circumferential wavy structure.
5. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the straining ring is
formed from a plurality of straining ring parts that are fastened
together by means of closing elements.
6. The cable sleeve of claim 5, wherein the closing elements
comprise a first end rotatably arranged in a pivot bearing provided
on at least one of the straining ring parts and a second end
opposite the first end that engages a counter-bearing on another of
the straining ring parts to fasten the straining ring parts
together.
7. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the straining ring has a
circumferential fixing groove and the at least one sealing body
comprises a corresponding circumferential fixing projection that is
received within the fixing groove of the straining ring.
8. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the covering body comprises
a tube.
9. The cable sleeve of claim 8, wherein the tube of the covering
body is longitudinally slit.
10. The cable sleeve of claim 8, wherein the covering body is a
sleeve hood having a closed end opposite the front-face end.
11. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the covering body
comprises at least one suspension projection.
12. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the covering body
comprises at least one holding bracket.
13. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the covering body
comprises ribs for structural reinforcement.
14. The cable sleeve of claim 1, wherein the ring seal comprises an
elastomer material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APLICATIONS
This application claims the benefit of foreign priority from
International Application No. PCT/DE99/01251, which was published
as International Publication No. WO 00/30231 in the German language
on May 25, 2000, and which claims the benefit of foreign priority
from German Patent Application Serial No. 198 53 203.2 filed Nov.
18, 1998.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cable sleeve comprising a
covering body and at least one front-face sealing body with a
circumferential, U-shaped sealing groove and a ring seal. The
covering body comprises at its front-face end a circumferential,
conically tapered flange which, together with the ring seal
inserted into the sealing groove, is engaged by a straining
ring.
2. Description of the Related Art
EP 0 877 716-A2 discloses a cable sleeve which comprises a covering
body comprising an added flange, to which a sealing system
comprising an annular seal is pressed with the help of a straining
ring.
EP 0 844 717-A2 discloses a straining ring for flanged joints in
cable sets or tubes. The straining ring comprises several partial
ring segments that are engaged by a straining band. During
straining of the straining band, the partial ring segments are
radially inwardly pressed onto a sealing system.
WO 96/32660 discloses a hood sleeve formed of a sealing body and a
hood body. A sealing ring is housed in a sealing groove comprising
a variable volume. As a result of deformation that occurs during
closing, the sealing ring is pressed to the inner wall of the hood
body by narrowing the sealing groove, for example with the help of
an eccentric.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The problem underlying the present invention is to create a cable
sleeve, in which the sealing ratios between the sealing body and
the covering body are improved with the help of a suitable ring
seal and a straining ring being adapted thereto. According to the
present invention, the problem is solved with a cable sleeve of the
above-mentioned type wherein the ring seal comprises as its basic
cross-section an L-shape. The cross-section of the first leg of the
L-shape is adapted to that of the sealing groove of the sealing
body and the second leg of the L-shape has at both of its sides a
tapered cross-section broadening towards the first leg. The tapered
course of the second leg corresponds at the one side of the course
of the tapered flange and at the other side to the course of the
conical groove wall of the ring groove inside the straining ring.
The straining ring comprises a circumferential projection acting on
the first leg of the ring seal positioned in the sealing groove of
the sealing body.
As compared to the known prior art, it is a decisive advantage in
the sealing system according to the present invention that the
straining ring exerting the sealing pressure not only effects an
all-over deformation of the ring seal, but that, during the closing
operation, the sealing towards the covering body is done via the
groove wall of the ring groove of the straining ring and the
sealing towards the sealing body is done via the action of a
circumferential projection on the ring seal. For this reason the
ring seal is formed to have an L-shaped basic form, wherein the
first leg, which is in general the shorter one, is adapted to the
shape of the groove of the sealing body. The second leg of the
L-shaped ring seal is formed to have a conical shape and serves for
sealing against a circumferential flange of the covering body. The
circumferential ring groove in the straining ring is formed to have
a corresponding conical shape, so that, when the straining ring is
closed and its diameter is reduced, the straining ring slides along
on the conical counter-surfaces. As a result, an increasing
pressure is exerted on the ring seal, wherein the circumferential
projection at the straining ring exerts pressure on the first leg
of the ring seal. Further, guiding elements having the shape of a
fixing groove and that of a fixing projection are provided in the
straining ring and in the sealing body, respectively, for mutual
positioning. The straining ring according to the present invention
comprises several straining ring parts, and preferably two
identical straining ring parts, which are fastened on the sealing
region by means of closing elements. The closing elements are
preferably threaded bolts or screws arranged in pivot bearings so
as to be non-removable and can, after positioning of the straining
ring parts, be threaded into counter-bearings of the corresponding
straining ring part. The straining ring parts are pulled against
each other by threading the screws of the straining ring and
thereby pressing the sealing system together in the above-described
manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will be illustrated in more detail referring
to the following figures in which like reference letters designate
like parts in the various views and in which:
FIG. 1 shows an assembled cable sleeve according to the present
invention;
FIG. 2 shows a sealing body according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 shows a ring seal according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows a straining ring according to the present
invention;
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cable sleeve in the
sealing region before mounting of the straining ring;
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view in the sealing region including
an added straining ring before the sealing system is fully pressed
together;
FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view in the sealing region after the
sealing system is fully pressed together; and
FIG. 8 shows a top view of the cable sleeve according to the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a hood sleeve HM in its assembled state. It is obvious
therefrom that the hood sleeve comprises a covering body UK, which
is at one frontal side closed to have a hood-like shape. At the
opposing frontal side, the hood sleeve HM is closed by a sealing
body, which is sealingly inserted towards the covering body UK with
the help of a sealing system according to the present invention.
Besides the ring seal, which is not visible in FIG. 1, a straining
ring SR comprising two straining ring parts SP1 and SP2 is provided
for this purpose. Compression of the straining ring SR is achieved
with the help of closing elements VE1 and VE2 being correspondingly
arranged at the ends of the straining ring parts SP1 and SP2. The
reduction of the diameter of the straining ring generates the
required closing pressure upon the ring seal. The hood sleeve HM is
further provided with holding brackets HL, with the help of which a
mast fixing is enabled. Further, a suspension device AA is provided
for suspending the hood sleeve HM from a carrier cable. Ribs R are
provided for increasing the mechanical strength and stiffening the
covering body UK.
FIG. 2 illustrates a sealing body DK comprising two sealing body
parts DK1 and DK2. Cable entrances KE for inserting cables are
provided in the sectional plane as well as in the other parts of
the sealing body. Non-cut (e.g., express) cables can also be
inserted through the cable entrances KE in the sectional plane. The
sealing body is provided with circumferential, U-shaped sealing
groove DN, into which a corresponding ring seal for sealing against
the covering body UK is inserted. Such a sealing body DK is in
principle known and is already being used for longitudinally split
cable sets, in which a longitudinally split sleeve tube is tightly
compressed on the sealing body or upon the circumferential ring
seal, respectively. The problem solved by the present invention
includes among others that such a sealing body can also be used for
a hood-shaped covering body. Since hood sleeves, as a result of the
rigid diameter, do not allow compression, as in a longitudinally
split cable set, the sealing system according to the present
invention has been developed.
FIG. 3 shows the ring seal DR, which has been developed for the new
sealing system and whose cross-section comprises an L-shape. The
cross-sectional shape is not clearly visible in this illustration,
but the first leg ES and the second leg ZS of the L-shape are
clearly shown in FIGS. 5-7. The first leg ES seats into the sealing
groove of the sealing body during assembly, while the second leg ZS
seals against the covering body. Further, a split ring seal DR can
be inserted, wherein known connecting measures are then taken at
the separation location TS.
FIG. 4 illustrates the straining ring SR forming, in conjunction
with the previously described ring seal DR, the sealing system
according to the present invention. The straining ring SR in the
present case comprises two identical straining ring parts SP1 and
SP2 connected to each other via closing elements VE1 and VE2.
The closing elements VE1 and VE2 are rotatably arranged in pivot
bearings DL1 and DL2, respectively, at the ends of the straining
ring part SP1. After assembly of the straining ring parts SP1 and
SP2 to the already pre-mounted sealing body DK and ring seal DR,
the closing elements VE1 and VE2 are with their closing bolts or
screws threaded into counter-bearings GL1 and GL2, respectively, of
the corresponding straining ring part SP2. Finally, by tightening
the closing screws, the two straining ring parts SP1 and SP2 are
pulled together until the required sealing pressure is applied. The
reception profile of the straining ring SR or of the straining ring
parts SP1 and SP2, respectively, is composed of the ring groove RN,
a circumferential projection DA and a fixing groove FN lying
therebelow. When the straining ring SR or the straining ring parts
SP1 and SP2, respectively, are put on, the circumferential flange
FL of the covering body UK and the second leg ZS of the already
pre-mounted ring seal DR are inserted into the ring groove RN. When
doing so, the position of the projection DA for acting upon the
first leg ES of the ring seal DR, which has already been inserted
into the circumferential sealing groove DN of the sealing body, is
automatically achieved. What is also automatically achieved in this
mounting procedure is insertion of the circumferential fixing
projection of the sealing body DK into the fixing groove FN, if
such a fixing projection exists on the sealing body.
In the illustrated embodiment, the two closing elements VE1 and VE2
are rotatably arranged in bearings at one straining ring part SP1.
The second straining ring part SP2 can thus be moved relative to
the first straining ring part SP1 in the direction of the pivot of
the closing element, depending on how far the two corresponding
closing screws S or nuts, respectively, are screwed into or onto,
respectively, a thread of the closing elements VE1, VE2. Hence, the
two straining ring parts SP1 and SP2 are at one side not only
arranged in bearings to be mutually rotatable, but can also be
mutually moved in the direction of the pivot. By an alternate
tightening of the two closing screws S, the ring seal DR is
fastened between the straining ring SR and the hood sleeve HM as
well as between the straining ring SR and the sealing body DK.
Fastening of the straining ring SR at two sides has the advantage
that action of the closing forces is uniformly distributed over the
circumference. Were the straining ring parts SP1 and SP2 arranged
to be only mutually rotatable (and not also mutually movable), no
high pre-tightening force would act on the ring seal DR in the
region of the pivot. The hood sleeve HM would leak first in this
region.
FIG. 5 shows the beginning of the assembly for sealing the hood
sleeve HM. In this state the ring seal DR is already inserted into
the U-shaped sealing groove DN of the sealing body DK comprising
two sealing body parts DK1 and DK2. In this cross-sectional
illustration it can be seen that the ring seal DR is with its first
leg ES seated into the sealing groove DN of the sealing body DK,
while the second leg ZS, in the present case the longer leg, is
positioned closely to the sealing flange FL of the covering body
UK. As can be seen from the cross-sectional view of the ring seal
DR, both sealing surfaces of the second leg ZS extend toward the
first leg ES in a conically widening manner. Further, it can be
seen that the ring seal DR is provided with several annularly
extending cavities HR to ensure the required flexibility. In
addition, it is shown that the conically extending surfaces of the
second leg ZS are provided with a wavy structure WS ensuring an
improvement of the sealing characteristics. Still further, cable
entries KE are shown wherein the middle cable entry is located in
the separating area TE of the sealing body DK.
FIG. 6 shows the following step of the closing operation. The
straining ring SR is already located in its position, so as to
encompass with its first flank the flange FL of the covering body
UK of the hood sleeve HM and with its second flank the conically
extending seal surface of the second leg ZS of the ring seal DR.
The ring seal DR and the ring groove RN of the straining ring SR
are formed with respect to their cross section so that the
circumferential projection DA is able to act upon the first leg ES
of the ring seal DR being seated into the sealing groove DN of the
sealing body DK. Thus, the first leg ES of the ring seal DR is
prestressed between the sealing body DK and the straining ring SR.
As can be seen in FIG. 6, the stress direction SP is shown by an
arrow in which direction the straining ring SR is moved radially
during the subsequent fastening operation.
FIG. 7 shows the final state of the closed sealing system. As can
be seen, the sealing is provided between the covering body UK and
the sealing body DK at the sealing surface F1 between the flange
and the ring seal DR and the sealing surface F2 between the ring
seal DR and the second flank of the straining ring SR. In addition,
the first leg ES of the ring seal DR is pressed against the sealing
surface F3 within the sealing groove DN due to the projection DA of
the straining ring SR. In FIG. 7, the angle W at which the sealing
surfaces F1 and F2 are inclined, is indicated. This angle also
corresponds to the angle opening of the ring groove RN in the
straining ring SR, when the outer wall of the flange FL extends
parallel to the inner wall of the first flank of the straining ring
SR. Of course, the ring seal DR is formed such that the required
closing pressure is maintained in the final state. The material of
the ring seal is an elastomer, preferably silicone. To compensate
the process tolerance, the longest possible prestressing paths of
the ring seal DR are utilized. This is primarily achieved by
providing annular cavities HR within the sealing profile. Utilizing
cavities HR, prestressing paths can be realized which would not be
possible with massive seals, since silicone materials are
incompressible. The cavities HR in the seal are formed such that
the remaining webs are not perpendicular to the prestressing
direction, and thus, maintain defined deformations during the
closing operation. The wavy structures WS provided on the surfaces
F1, F2 and F3 of the ring seal DR create an additional contact
pressure. Beside the function of sealing, the ring seal DR has the
additional object to form a flange, onto which the covering body UK
can be put while pre-assembling, so that the assembling is
facilitated due to the geometry of the ring seal. As can be further
seen in FIG. 7, the outer groove flank of the sealing groove DN of
the sealing body DK forms a fixing projection FA which seats into a
corresponding fixing groove FN of the straining ring SR. Thus, a
positioning retention is assured so that the sealing body DK cannot
wander off.
FIG. 8 shows in a top view the arrangement of the hood sleeve HM,
in which the closing means at the right side is already
pre-assembled with the closing element VE2. At the left side, the
closing element VE1 rotatably mounted in the pivot bearing DL is
next pivoted in the direction of the arrow P into the
counter-bearing GL1 of the straining ring part SP2. Subsequently
the straining ring parts SP1 and SP2 are pulled against each other
by mutual tightening of both screws S until the required closing
pressure is obtained. Further, holding brackets HL and the
suspension projection AA are recognizable.
In summary, known sealing bodies for longitudinally split cable
sets may now be used for hood sleeves with an appropriate ring seal
according to the present invention. In addition to providing a
sealing function, the ring seal also provides mounting assistance,
as the hood sleeve used as a covering body can be placed upon the
ring seal which is already positioned in the sealing body.
Furthermore, the ring groove of the straining ring is adapted to
the cross section of the ring seal. Thus, an optimal sealing result
can be obtained in the prevailing conditions, especially since
additional radial contact pressure of the first leg of the ring
seal in the sealing groove also produces a radial sealing pressure.
Because of the annular cavities in the ring seal, there are large
initial prestressing paths possible. Because of the mechanical
fixation of the sealing body in the straining ring with support of
the fixing means, the sealing body is fixed in a way that the
initial tension of the ring seal, also at outer mechanical
stresses, won't be reduced. According to the illustrated
embodiments of the present invention, the straining ring parts are
not linked together by only one turning knuckle. Because of the
tangential connection with the closing elements, the straining ring
parts can be alternately deployed in sealing position so that
one-sided stress of the ring seal can be excluded, as it would not
be when only one turning knuckle is deployed. Therefore, a steady
distribution of pressure is possible during the locking action.
* * * * *